LIVE: Olympic Torch in York

7.20pm - So the torch is ready to spend the night in York and its bearers can put their feet up after a day they will never forget. But the party isn't over yet, as the thousands of people
who have flocked to Knavesmire are treated to a huge free concert.

Thanks for following our coverage today. Our photographers have got some fantastic pictures of a memorable day for York and North Yorkshire, so don't miss The Press tomorrow.

And remember: you can keep sending us your pictures of the day the Olympic Torch came to town. You can email newsdesk@thepress.co.uk, text them
to 80360 starting with the word YORK, or tweet them to @yorkpress

7.08pm - The ever-unflappable Harvey Smith has told the Knavesmire crowd that he is "very honoured" to have been asked to play his part in the torch relay, adding that Paddy, his horse, was
"a bit frightened to start with but then he settled down". Paddy is apparently not used to large crowds, so this has been a big day for him as well, and Harvey says the horse is "a perfect
gentleman".

7.02pm - Tens of thousands of people are at the Knavesmire to welcome the Olympic flame and play their part in York's day of celebrations.

6.58pm - Harvey's horse has now calmed down, the showjumper has dismounted and, following a countdown, the cauldron at Knavesmire has been lit. Our reporter Richard Catton has tweeted that
there is an "incredible atmosphere".

6.52pm - Things have gone ever so slightly awry at York Racecourse, with showjumping legend Harvey Smith dropping the torch as his horse, Paddy, failed to settle. The flame has stayed
alight, though, so no real disasters. Phew. It all adds to the fun, really.

6.50pm - Having passed through the streets of York for the last hour-and-a-half to cheering crowds, the torch is now about to make its appearance on the York Stage at the city's racecourse.

6.35pm - Our reporter Mark Stead has just got back from seeing the torch relay head down Shambles and along Pavement and said: "Even the weather has come good for the Olympic torch today and
that's only helped the atmosphere around the city centre.

"There was a huge sense of anticipation when the torch was being carried along Shambles and a huge roar when it was held aloft outside St Crux Church. People have been saying that, after they've
seen so much of the relay on television from other parts of the country, they can't believe they were so close to it."

6.18pm - There's a huge cheer from the crowd as it reaches the foot of Shambles, as the band plays Land of Hope and Glory. It's great weather here, a great turnout and a great atmosphere.

Glenn Marshall, 41, from Fulford, said: "It's a massive day for York to be playing a part in the Olympics and it's great to see so many people out to see the torch.

"It really has been like a carnival in the city today - everybody has seemed to be in such a good mood because of this."

Susan Peters, 66, from Holgate, likened the occasion to the Pope's visit to York in 1982 for the "feeling of togetherness and happiness".

"However far the torch goes around the country, I bet it will not get as big a welcome as it's had in Yorkshire - people have really done the county and the city proud today," she said.

6.16pm - The torch is coming down Shambles now. The streets around here are packed.

6.06pm - Some people have climbed a tree at St Crux for a better view, and the warm-up acts are keeping the crowds entertained at the foot of Shambles and on Pavement. The torch is due in
King's Square at 6.15pm, the foot of Shambles by 6.19pm, and then on to Coppergate, Clifford Street and then over Skeldergate Bridge to Bishopgate Street.

5.55pm - There are big crowds now at the foot of Shambles, awaiting the flame's arrival there. Bands are playing outside St Crux as anticipation builds.

5.35pm - The crowd went wild as the flame changed hands in Tadcaster Road, between 15-year-old James Hunter and ex-Olympian Matt Shirvington, and large crowds are already gathering in St
Helen's Square ahead of the procession's arrival.

5.05pm - Reporter Richard Catton tweets via @yorkpress: "Excitement building here at York College", as 200 cyclists gather to escort the flame into the heart of the city.

4.40pm - Scattered crowds are already gathering along Tadcaster Road to welcome the flame, which is due to arrive in York in about 40 minutes.

4.38pm - The Olympic Flame is now back in Convoy Mode, inside a lantern on the bus, while it travels to York, where it is due to arrive at about 5.20pm.

4.05pm - The Torch relay crew have just started moving again, following a well-earned break at Fountain's Abbey, and are about to enter Ripon.

3.25pm - The flame is now back in Convoy Mode, trapped in a lantern on a bus, and heading from Harrogate, where a fantastic crowd turned out to greet the torchbearers, to Fountain's Abbey.

2.20pm - The torch is now in Harrogate, with Andy McMenemy bringing it into the town. Last year, he ran 66 marathons in 66 days in 66 cities around the country, so the quarter-of-a-mile
relay leg shouldn't be a problem for him.

1.40pm - About 15,000 people watched the Olympic torch as it passed through Bridlington yesterday, and East Riding of Yorkshire Council's chairman Coun Chad Chadwick has described it as "a
once-in-a-lifetime event".

"The atmosphere in Bridlington was fantastic and it was great to see so many people showing their support for those inspirational people selected to be torchbearers," he said.

"The day will long be remembered by those who witnessed it. I was also in Goole today to see the torch and the whole town turned out to welcome the flame with a real community spirit."

Council leader Stephen Parnaby said the torch's appearance in Beverley, where almost 25,000 people turned out to see it, was "a proud moment", saying: "I would like to congratulate all those people
who carried the torch through our area and thank visitors and our residents for their fantastic support."

UPDATE: 12.20 - Dan Bean here, just got back with a few thoughts from Selby and Barkston Ash.

The size of the crowds were amazing, there were probably a good couple of thousand in Selby, while the torch procession actually got held up for a minute in Barkston Ash as people flocked in front
of the vehicles to get a better look.

The atmosphere was incredible though, and everyone I spoke to was grinning from ear to ear. The weather probably helped (it's very warm when you're running around in a suit trying to stay ahead of
the flame, in case you were wondering), but everyone seemed proud just to be seeing the torch.

11.49am - The flame is now in Wetherby, having travelled this morning from Hull to Goole, to Camblesforth, to Selby, to Monk Fryston, to Barkston Ash, to Tadcaster, to Boston Spa and now
Wetherby. Erica Hughes, 72, from Pocklington, started today's activities with the flame at The Deep in Hull. The final torchbearer today will be Harvey Smith at York Racecourse this evening.

10.51am - The village of Barkston Ash came to a complete standstill as hundreds of residents, schoolchildren and families came out in the sunshine to see the torch pass through.

Louise Hanen, from Harrogate, had her torch lit by the Olympic flame before running into the village. She said: "I am doing this in memory of my father and people with Alzheimers and dementia."

Louise is a member of the Acorn committee, which raises awareness and funds for sufferers of Alzheimers and other forms of dementia and their families in the Ripon and Harrogate area.

10.43am - We've added a picture gallery from the relay so far today. More pics will be added throughout
the day.

10.35am - In total today, the torch is being carried for just under 150 miles, and is taking in 15 communities, beginning in Hull and ending tonight in York.

10.30am - Our reporter Dan is tracking the torch as it is carried around Selby District, and says it is getting a great reaction everywhere it goes. It should be reaching Barkston Ash at
10.39am, Tadcaster at 10.43am, then Boston Spa at 11.13am.

9.48am - Our reporter in Selby says an estimated 5,000 people turned out there to line the streets as the torch procession wound along Bawtry Road from the Three Lakes Shopping Centre
towards the Abbey.

Barry Mawer, of Green Lane, Selby, who waited for about 45 minutes for the torch to arrive, said: "I think it's brilliant. I didn't expect to see so many people out. The build-up has been smashing.
My two grandchildren are at Selby High School and were really looking forward to it."

9.40am - The Torch has been carried through Goole, Camblesforth and Selby already, greeted by cheering crowds along the route. Next stop Monk Fryston, at
10.18am. Remember to keep sending us your pictures and comments, either below or on newsdesk@thepress.co.uk or on twitter @yorkpress

9am - THE stage is set for the arrival of the Olympic Torch in York today is it continues its historic journey through North Yorkshire.

After making its way through the streets of York this afternoon, the torch will be handed to showjumping legend Harvey Smith, who will bring the flame on horseback to the stage at tonight’s huge
free concert on Knavesmire.

Yesterday, the torch arrived in North Yorkshire for the first time. In the village of Lythe, near Whitby, it was taken through the streets by 66-year-old York marathon runner and charity fundraiser
David Heppell.

At Whitby the torch was taken aboard the steam train Sir Nigel Gresley and carried to Pickering on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Railway general manager Philip Benham said: “The sun came out and railway was looking great. It’s a great privilege to part of this once-in-a-lifetime event.”

Comments

sb72
11:31am Tue 19 Jun 12

Where's Terry ?

Where's Terry ?sb72

Where's Terry ?

Score: 0

notmyrealname
12:56pm Tue 19 Jun 12

And thank heavens the sun is shining on us at last !
Lets hope none of the York Runners are greedy enough to sell the Torch afterwards ( now going on E bay for £100grand plus ) with no mention of giving the money to charity or back to pay their council costs

And thank heavens the sun is shining on us at last !
Lets hope none of the York Runners are greedy enough to sell the Torch afterwards ( now going on E bay for £100grand plus ) with no mention of giving the money to charity or back to pay their council costsnotmyrealname

And thank heavens the sun is shining on us at last !
Lets hope none of the York Runners are greedy enough to sell the Torch afterwards ( now going on E bay for £100grand plus ) with no mention of giving the money to charity or back to pay their council costs

Score: 0

YorkPatrol
1:46pm Tue 19 Jun 12

If I were one of the runners, my torch would be going straight on eBay – In fact I would run straight from the event to get it listed!

Who’d keep a silly torch if it was worth 100 grand???

and forget the council, the money would be going nowhere but my pocket

If I were one of the runners, my torch would be going straight on eBay – In fact I would run straight from the event to get it listed!
Who’d keep a silly torch if it was worth 100 grand???
and forget the council, the money would be going nowhere but my pocketYorkPatrol

If I were one of the runners, my torch would be going straight on eBay – In fact I would run straight from the event to get it listed!

Who’d keep a silly torch if it was worth 100 grand???

and forget the council, the money would be going nowhere but my pocket

Score: 0

matroom
2:41pm Tue 19 Jun 12

YorkPatrol wrote…

If I were one of the runners, my torch would be going straight on eBay – In fact I would run straight from the event to get it listed!

Who’d keep a silly torch if it was worth 100 grand???

and forget the council, the money would be going nowhere but my pocket

Plus 1 for me. Life changing amount of money.

[quote][p][bold]YorkPatrol[/bold] wrote:
If I were one of the runners, my torch would be going straight on eBay – In fact I would run straight from the event to get it listed!
Who’d keep a silly torch if it was worth 100 grand???
and forget the council, the money would be going nowhere but my pocket[/p][/quote]Plus 1 for me. Life changing amount of money.matroom

YorkPatrol wrote…

If I were one of the runners, my torch would be going straight on eBay – In fact I would run straight from the event to get it listed!

Who’d keep a silly torch if it was worth 100 grand???

and forget the council, the money would be going nowhere but my pocket

Plus 1 for me. Life changing amount of money.

Score: 0

NoNewsIsGoodNews
4:04pm Tue 19 Jun 12

matroom wrote…

YorkPatrol wrote…

If I were one of the runners, my torch would be going straight on eBay – In fact I would run straight from the event to get it listed!

Who’d keep a silly torch if it was worth 100 grand???

and forget the council, the money would be going nowhere but my pocket

Plus 1 for me. Life changing amount of money.

They are not selling for anything like that amount, the first one on ebay was bid up to £174,000. but the winning bidder never paid.

Currently there is one on auction for less than £3000 with 19 hours to go.

[quote][p][bold]matroom[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]YorkPatrol[/bold] wrote:
If I were one of the runners, my torch would be going straight on eBay – In fact I would run straight from the event to get it listed!
Who’d keep a silly torch if it was worth 100 grand???
and forget the council, the money would be going nowhere but my pocket[/p][/quote]Plus 1 for me. Life changing amount of money.[/p][/quote]They are not selling for anything like that amount, the first one on ebay was bid up to £174,000. but the winning bidder never paid.
Currently there is one on auction for less than £3000 with 19 hours to go.NoNewsIsGoodNews

matroom wrote…

YorkPatrol wrote…

If I were one of the runners, my torch would be going straight on eBay – In fact I would run straight from the event to get it listed!

Who’d keep a silly torch if it was worth 100 grand???

and forget the council, the money would be going nowhere but my pocket

Plus 1 for me. Life changing amount of money.

They are not selling for anything like that amount, the first one on ebay was bid up to £174,000. but the winning bidder never paid.

Currently there is one on auction for less than £3000 with 19 hours to go.

Score: 0

lindyloon
4:09pm Tue 19 Jun 12

We're loving all the tv coverage of the Olympic Torch in Yorkshire. Will be watching calender & look North tonight for any familiar faces. Watching all the way in the Canary Islands. :)

We're loving all the tv coverage of the Olympic Torch in Yorkshire. Will be watching calender & look North tonight for any familiar faces. Watching all the way in the Canary Islands. :)lindyloon

We're loving all the tv coverage of the Olympic Torch in Yorkshire. Will be watching calender & look North tonight for any familiar faces. Watching all the way in the Canary Islands. :)

Score: 0

YorkPatrol
4:23pm Tue 19 Jun 12

lindyloon wrote…

We're loving all the tv coverage of the Olympic Torch in Yorkshire. Will be watching calender & look North tonight for any familiar faces. Watching all the way in the Canary Islands. :)

Whoppty do!

[quote][p][bold]lindyloon[/bold] wrote:
We're loving all the tv coverage of the Olympic Torch in Yorkshire. Will be watching calender & look North tonight for any familiar faces. Watching all the way in the Canary Islands. :)[/p][/quote]Whoppty do!YorkPatrol

lindyloon wrote…

We're loving all the tv coverage of the Olympic Torch in Yorkshire. Will be watching calender & look North tonight for any familiar faces. Watching all the way in the Canary Islands. :)

Whoppty do!

Score: 0

AngryandFrustrated
5:32pm Tue 19 Jun 12

I am a great fan of the olympics and am very much looking forward to when it starts in August. I cannot, however, understand the hysteria that appears to be surrounding this relay! Thousands of people are turning out - can anyone explain why?

I get the fact that worthy people consider it an honour to carry the torch (with the exception of the corporate runners who are not worthy at all!!). I get the fact that lindyloon is enjoying watching it on the i/n in the Canaries - I suspect it has nothing to do with the "torch" at all but it must be nice to see familiar places and the odd familiar face. However, I cannot understand why 1000s and 1000s of people are lining the streets. All it is to me is a **** nuisance guaranteed to **** up my journey home tonight and the journey to work tomorrow!!

I am a great fan of the olympics and am very much looking forward to when it starts in August. I cannot, however, understand the hysteria that appears to be surrounding this relay! Thousands of people are turning out - can anyone explain why?
I get the fact that worthy people consider it an honour to carry the torch (with the exception of the corporate runners who are not worthy at all!!). I get the fact that lindyloon is enjoying watching it on the i/n in the Canaries - I suspect it has nothing to do with the "torch" at all but it must be nice to see familiar places and the odd familiar face. However, I cannot understand why 1000s and 1000s of people are lining the streets. All it is to me is a **** nuisance guaranteed to **** up my journey home tonight and the journey to work tomorrow!!AngryandFrustrated

I am a great fan of the olympics and am very much looking forward to when it starts in August. I cannot, however, understand the hysteria that appears to be surrounding this relay! Thousands of people are turning out - can anyone explain why?

I get the fact that worthy people consider it an honour to carry the torch (with the exception of the corporate runners who are not worthy at all!!). I get the fact that lindyloon is enjoying watching it on the i/n in the Canaries - I suspect it has nothing to do with the "torch" at all but it must be nice to see familiar places and the odd familiar face. However, I cannot understand why 1000s and 1000s of people are lining the streets. All it is to me is a **** nuisance guaranteed to **** up my journey home tonight and the journey to work tomorrow!!

Score: 0

mortandindi
6:39pm Tue 19 Jun 12

Considering the millions that will be made from the olympics, it is totally disgraceful that only 1p in the £1 will be routed back into grass roots sport, where will our future sportsmen and women come from? as for the legacy they will leave, rubbish, nothing more than a bad taste. turn off and forget about them. I am glad Iam going on holiday for a month.

Considering the millions that will be made from the olympics, it is totally disgraceful that only 1p in the £1 will be routed back into grass roots sport, where will our future sportsmen and women come from? as for the legacy they will leave, rubbish, nothing more than a bad taste. turn off and forget about them. I am glad Iam going on holiday for a month.mortandindi

Considering the millions that will be made from the olympics, it is totally disgraceful that only 1p in the £1 will be routed back into grass roots sport, where will our future sportsmen and women come from? as for the legacy they will leave, rubbish, nothing more than a bad taste. turn off and forget about them. I am glad Iam going on holiday for a month.

Score: 0

colette
6:46pm Tue 19 Jun 12

Well, AngryandFrustrated - I went to see the torch this morning - it was a great atmosphere, and something I will never get the chance to see again in my lifetime (at least in this country!) Everyone lining the streets was really enjoying the occasion - presumably the miseriguts didn't bother turning out ;-)

Well, AngryandFrustrated - I went to see the torch this morning - it was a great atmosphere, and something I will never get the chance to see again in my lifetime (at least in this country!) Everyone lining the streets was really enjoying the occasion - presumably the miseriguts didn't bother turning out ;-)colette

Well, AngryandFrustrated - I went to see the torch this morning - it was a great atmosphere, and something I will never get the chance to see again in my lifetime (at least in this country!) Everyone lining the streets was really enjoying the occasion - presumably the miseriguts didn't bother turning out ;-)

Score: 0

nearlyman
6:49pm Tue 19 Jun 12

Just seen it at Cliffords Tower ......awesome !! but that has to be the most expensive relay ever !!! Never seen so much back up / police support etc. But got to be worth it to see so much happiness and all the smiling faces.............

Just seen it at Cliffords Tower ......awesome !! but that has to be the most expensive relay ever !!! Never seen so much back up / police support etc. But got to be worth it to see so much happiness and all the smiling faces.............nearlyman

Just seen it at Cliffords Tower ......awesome !! but that has to be the most expensive relay ever !!! Never seen so much back up / police support etc. But got to be worth it to see so much happiness and all the smiling faces.............

Score: 0

notmyrealname
8:16pm Tue 19 Jun 12

A great parade -
but was a bit spoilt by the 2 noisy helicopters overhead all the time - are they really necessary ? And a certain bank who were getting some
publicity on their bus should have been throwing money back to us taxpayers !!

A great parade -
but was a bit spoilt by the 2 noisy helicopters overhead all the time - are they really necessary ? And a certain bank who were getting some
publicity on their bus should have been throwing money back to us taxpayers !!notmyrealname

A great parade -
but was a bit spoilt by the 2 noisy helicopters overhead all the time - are they really necessary ? And a certain bank who were getting some
publicity on their bus should have been throwing money back to us taxpayers !!

Score: 0

holgatebob
9:05pm Tue 19 Jun 12

Had to sit it out in the pub before getting home. My route was blocked by so many people. A bit like cavemen seeing fire for the first time. Quite amusing.

Had to sit it out in the pub before getting home. My route was blocked by so many people. A bit like cavemen seeing fire for the first time. Quite amusing.holgatebob

Had to sit it out in the pub before getting home. My route was blocked by so many people. A bit like cavemen seeing fire for the first time. Quite amusing.

Score: 0

Buzz Light-year
9:29pm Tue 19 Jun 12

Well I'm glad everyone there had a good time, that's up to them but there's no way I can get behind such corporate whoring.

Why were the fizzy drink bus, the bank bus and the technology manufacturer bus so much bigger and more visible than the real and worthy people, the torch bearers and the actual torch?
The corporate presence was 1000 times bigger than the reason for it.

Why did people cheer so hard when the corporate bullsheet drove by?
Fizzy drinks - are they rock stars, sportsmen or positive community role models?
Are they rowlocks!

When I saw the blue quad bikes arrive and their posse started handing out the plastic logoed-up advertising flags and clappers I was sickened. Proper sickened.
I'll be disgusted if I see any of that tat littering the streets tomorrow.

Not heroic or sporty or patriotic or exciting at all - just marketing whorage.

Well I'm glad everyone there had a good time, that's up to them but there's no way I can get behind such corporate whoring.
Why were the fizzy drink bus, the bank bus and the technology manufacturer bus so much bigger and more visible than the real and worthy people, the torch bearers and the actual torch?
The corporate presence was 1000 times bigger than the reason for it.
Why did people cheer so hard when the corporate bullsheet drove by?
Fizzy drinks - are they rock stars, sportsmen or positive community role models?
Are they rowlocks!
When I saw the blue quad bikes arrive and their posse started handing out the plastic logoed-up advertising flags and clappers I was sickened. Proper sickened.
I'll be disgusted if I see any of that tat littering the streets tomorrow.
Not heroic or sporty or patriotic or exciting at all - just marketing whorage.Buzz Light-year

Well I'm glad everyone there had a good time, that's up to them but there's no way I can get behind such corporate whoring.

Why were the fizzy drink bus, the bank bus and the technology manufacturer bus so much bigger and more visible than the real and worthy people, the torch bearers and the actual torch?
The corporate presence was 1000 times bigger than the reason for it.

Why did people cheer so hard when the corporate bullsheet drove by?
Fizzy drinks - are they rock stars, sportsmen or positive community role models?
Are they rowlocks!

When I saw the blue quad bikes arrive and their posse started handing out the plastic logoed-up advertising flags and clappers I was sickened. Proper sickened.
I'll be disgusted if I see any of that tat littering the streets tomorrow.

Not heroic or sporty or patriotic or exciting at all - just marketing whorage.

Score: 0

Sawday2
10:54pm Tue 19 Jun 12

How can it be called a relay when each torch is a new one. Will the Olympic relays have four batons each?

How can it be called a relay when each torch is a new one. Will the Olympic relays have four batons each?Sawday2

How can it be called a relay when each torch is a new one. Will the Olympic relays have four batons each?

Score: 0

spiritofyork
10:55pm Tue 19 Jun 12

more traffic chaos. thanks again coyc, your contempt for drivers keeps on getting worse. and to top it all off you have a bunch of cyclists following the **** thing. you trying to wind us up or what? glad the olympics won't be coming back any time soon if it takes me 2 hours to get home.

more traffic chaos. thanks again coyc, your contempt for drivers keeps on getting worse. and to top it all off you have a bunch of cyclists following the **** thing. you trying to wind us up or what? glad the olympics won't be coming back any time soon if it takes me 2 hours to get home.spiritofyork

more traffic chaos. thanks again coyc, your contempt for drivers keeps on getting worse. and to top it all off you have a bunch of cyclists following the **** thing. you trying to wind us up or what? glad the olympics won't be coming back any time soon if it takes me 2 hours to get home.

Score: 0

pedalling paul
10:57pm Tue 19 Jun 12

Lovely to see that fantastic pedal powered escort. I accidentally caught the back of the relay as it went up The Mount and had to wave back at the cheering crowds as I pedalled along with a number of other hangers on........!

Lovely to see that fantastic pedal powered escort. I accidentally caught the back of the relay as it went up The Mount and had to wave back at the cheering crowds as I pedalled along with a number of other hangers on........!pedalling paul

Lovely to see that fantastic pedal powered escort. I accidentally caught the back of the relay as it went up The Mount and had to wave back at the cheering crowds as I pedalled along with a number of other hangers on........!

Score: 0

gmsgop
11:34pm Tue 19 Jun 12

Yes I was there too, what a happy day or the city- complete mix of generations out enjoying themselves. Council staff , police and volunteers did good! Great for our 800 anniversary- evening finished off perfectly with yummy york city made ice cream from LICC ice cream parlour in back swinegate !

Yes I was there too, what a happy day or the city- complete mix of generations out enjoying themselves. Council staff , police and volunteers did good! Great for our 800 anniversary- evening finished off perfectly with yummy york city made ice cream from LICC ice cream parlour in back swinegate !gmsgop

Yes I was there too, what a happy day or the city- complete mix of generations out enjoying themselves. Council staff , police and volunteers did good! Great for our 800 anniversary- evening finished off perfectly with yummy york city made ice cream from LICC ice cream parlour in back swinegate !

Score: 0

moose
2:45am Wed 20 Jun 12

Stop whinging, really, please, for once just stop complaining and be happy that lots of people (and I mean tens of thousands) were made very happy. I have never seen Selby or York like that before - extraordinary atmosphere with such good will and people beaming from ear to ear. I get despondent reading the same old tired, boring dullards on here. Does anything at all in the world excite you? Can you not just be pleased that other people were pleased by something so harmless?

Stop whinging, really, please, for once just stop complaining and be happy that lots of people (and I mean tens of thousands) were made very happy. I have never seen Selby or York like that before - extraordinary atmosphere with such good will and people beaming from ear to ear. I get despondent reading the same old tired, boring dullards on here. Does anything at all in the world excite you? Can you not just be pleased that other people were pleased by something so harmless?moose

Stop whinging, really, please, for once just stop complaining and be happy that lots of people (and I mean tens of thousands) were made very happy. I have never seen Selby or York like that before - extraordinary atmosphere with such good will and people beaming from ear to ear. I get despondent reading the same old tired, boring dullards on here. Does anything at all in the world excite you? Can you not just be pleased that other people were pleased by something so harmless?

Score: 0

Punkster
8:00am Wed 20 Jun 12

moose wrote…

Stop whinging, really, please, for once just stop complaining and be happy that lots of people (and I mean tens of thousands) were made very happy. I have never seen Selby or York like that before - extraordinary atmosphere with such good will and people beaming from ear to ear. I get despondent reading the same old tired, boring dullards on here. Does anything at all in the world excite you? Can you not just be pleased that other people were pleased by something so harmless?

Completely agree.

life is quite difficult and uncertain for lots of people right now. Bit of rest-bite can't be bad thing can it?

[quote][p][bold]moose[/bold] wrote:
Stop whinging, really, please, for once just stop complaining and be happy that lots of people (and I mean tens of thousands) were made very happy. I have never seen Selby or York like that before - extraordinary atmosphere with such good will and people beaming from ear to ear. I get despondent reading the same old tired, boring dullards on here. Does anything at all in the world excite you? Can you not just be pleased that other people were pleased by something so harmless?[/p][/quote]Completely agree.
life is quite difficult and uncertain for lots of people right now. Bit of rest-bite can't be bad thing can it?Punkster

moose wrote…

Stop whinging, really, please, for once just stop complaining and be happy that lots of people (and I mean tens of thousands) were made very happy. I have never seen Selby or York like that before - extraordinary atmosphere with such good will and people beaming from ear to ear. I get despondent reading the same old tired, boring dullards on here. Does anything at all in the world excite you? Can you not just be pleased that other people were pleased by something so harmless?

Completely agree.

life is quite difficult and uncertain for lots of people right now. Bit of rest-bite can't be bad thing can it?

Score: 0

ReginaldBiscuit
9:52am Wed 20 Jun 12

Punkster wrote…

moose wrote…

Stop whinging, really, please, for once just stop complaining and be happy that lots of people (and I mean tens of thousands) were made very happy. I have never seen Selby or York like that before - extraordinary atmosphere with such good will and people beaming from ear to ear. I get despondent reading the same old tired, boring dullards on here. Does anything at all in the world excite you? Can you not just be pleased that other people were pleased by something so harmless?

Completely agree.

life is quite difficult and uncertain for lots of people right now. Bit of rest-bite can't be bad thing can it?

Apes looking at fire on the end of a stick is akin to a dog getting excited by a thrown piece of wood or even flies buzzing like mad round a brightly coloured bug zapper.

Punkster, I agree with your ray-of-sunshine view but if your life is that shallow that you feel compelled to go and watch a turkey with a fire-stick then you have some questions to ask yourself. Apes are very much like lemmings and last night was a 'lemming effect'.

Your lives are controlled by the media and causes which play on a sense of guilt and a want of belonging.

I am not a creationist. There is no such thing as God in my mind but I wonder if the crowds would have been as big if it had been Jesus Christ running with the torch last night.

[quote][p][bold]Punkster[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]moose[/bold] wrote:
Stop whinging, really, please, for once just stop complaining and be happy that lots of people (and I mean tens of thousands) were made very happy. I have never seen Selby or York like that before - extraordinary atmosphere with such good will and people beaming from ear to ear. I get despondent reading the same old tired, boring dullards on here. Does anything at all in the world excite you? Can you not just be pleased that other people were pleased by something so harmless?[/p][/quote]Completely agree.
life is quite difficult and uncertain for lots of people right now. Bit of rest-bite can't be bad thing can it?[/p][/quote]Apes looking at fire on the end of a stick is akin to a dog getting excited by a thrown piece of wood or even flies buzzing like mad round a brightly coloured bug zapper.
Punkster, I agree with your ray-of-sunshine view but if your life is that shallow that you feel compelled to go and watch a turkey with a fire-stick then you have some questions to ask yourself. Apes are very much like lemmings and last night was a 'lemming effect'.
Your lives are controlled by the media and causes which play on a sense of guilt and a want of belonging.
I am not a creationist. There is no such thing as God in my mind but I wonder if the crowds would have been as big if it had been Jesus Christ running with the torch last night.ReginaldBiscuit

Punkster wrote…

moose wrote…

Stop whinging, really, please, for once just stop complaining and be happy that lots of people (and I mean tens of thousands) were made very happy. I have never seen Selby or York like that before - extraordinary atmosphere with such good will and people beaming from ear to ear. I get despondent reading the same old tired, boring dullards on here. Does anything at all in the world excite you? Can you not just be pleased that other people were pleased by something so harmless?

Completely agree.

life is quite difficult and uncertain for lots of people right now. Bit of rest-bite can't be bad thing can it?

Apes looking at fire on the end of a stick is akin to a dog getting excited by a thrown piece of wood or even flies buzzing like mad round a brightly coloured bug zapper.

Punkster, I agree with your ray-of-sunshine view but if your life is that shallow that you feel compelled to go and watch a turkey with a fire-stick then you have some questions to ask yourself. Apes are very much like lemmings and last night was a 'lemming effect'.

Your lives are controlled by the media and causes which play on a sense of guilt and a want of belonging.

I am not a creationist. There is no such thing as God in my mind but I wonder if the crowds would have been as big if it had been Jesus Christ running with the torch last night.

Score: 0

Firedrake
10:24am Wed 20 Jun 12

Moose asks those of us who can't get too excited about this if there's anything in the world which does excite us. Well of course there is! A great play well acted and imaginatively directed; an epic film; a good book; a live performance of an inspiring piece of music; a breathtaking piece of engineering; a ground-breaking exhibition; a cathedral; a mountain; the sea; the stars; "the universe in a grain of sand" ... the list is endless!

That said, I did make the effort to come into town early this morning as the torch was leaving from very close to my workplace and - as people keep saying - it's a "once in a lifetime" experience (although there are still plenty of people around who remember the 1940s version!) and I'm glad I did. However, I had naively assumed all the cafes anywhere near the route would be cashing in by opening up early for breakfast. Er ... no ... I ended up in an establishment I'm too ashamed to mention.

Moose asks those of us who can't get too excited about this if there's anything in the world which does excite us. Well of course there is! A great play well acted and imaginatively directed; an epic film; a good book; a live performance of an inspiring piece of music; a breathtaking piece of engineering; a ground-breaking exhibition; a cathedral; a mountain; the sea; the stars; "the universe in a grain of sand" ... the list is endless!
That said, I did make the effort to come into town early this morning as the torch was leaving from very close to my workplace and - as people keep saying - it's a "once in a lifetime" experience (although there are still plenty of people around who remember the 1940s version!) and I'm glad I did. However, I had naively assumed all the cafes anywhere near the route would be cashing in by opening up early for breakfast. Er ... no ... I ended up in an establishment I'm too ashamed to mention.Firedrake

Moose asks those of us who can't get too excited about this if there's anything in the world which does excite us. Well of course there is! A great play well acted and imaginatively directed; an epic film; a good book; a live performance of an inspiring piece of music; a breathtaking piece of engineering; a ground-breaking exhibition; a cathedral; a mountain; the sea; the stars; "the universe in a grain of sand" ... the list is endless!

That said, I did make the effort to come into town early this morning as the torch was leaving from very close to my workplace and - as people keep saying - it's a "once in a lifetime" experience (although there are still plenty of people around who remember the 1940s version!) and I'm glad I did. However, I had naively assumed all the cafes anywhere near the route would be cashing in by opening up early for breakfast. Er ... no ... I ended up in an establishment I'm too ashamed to mention.

Score: 0

hustler
10:54am Wed 20 Jun 12

That was the most enjoyable 4 hours waiting for someone I don't know from Adam, to saunter past with a flaming stick, which I caught a glimpse of for all of two seconds. The highlight of my year !

That was the most enjoyable 4 hours waiting for someone I don't know from Adam, to saunter past with a flaming stick, which I caught a glimpse of for all of two seconds. The highlight of my year !hustler

That was the most enjoyable 4 hours waiting for someone I don't know from Adam, to saunter past with a flaming stick, which I caught a glimpse of for all of two seconds. The highlight of my year !

Score: 0

Pete the Brickie
11:07am Wed 20 Jun 12

AngryandFrustrated wrote…

I am a great fan of the olympics and am very much looking forward to when it starts in August. I cannot, however, understand the hysteria that appears to be surrounding this relay! Thousands of people are turning out - can anyone explain why?

I get the fact that worthy people consider it an honour to carry the torch (with the exception of the corporate runners who are not worthy at all!!). I get the fact that lindyloon is enjoying watching it on the i/n in the Canaries - I suspect it has nothing to do with the "torch" at all but it must be nice to see familiar places and the odd familiar face. However, I cannot understand why 1000s and 1000s of people are lining the streets. All it is to me is a **** nuisance guaranteed to **** up my journey home tonight and the journey to work tomorrow!!

The answer is simple to this Angry, most of the thousands lining the routes are school children and their teachers. It amazed me that my son's Head Teacher couldn't put in place sufficient control measures to prevent the remote possibility of him slipping in two inches of snow, injuring himself and me suing the school this winter causing his school to close for several days. But he was able to manage enough safety precautions to transport the entire school to a nearby town, stand them next to a main road and allow them to mingle with people with no criminal records check to watch the torch pass . What's the Latin for "Anything Bar Teach"? It would make a great school motto these days.

[quote][p][bold]AngryandFrustrated[/bold] wrote:
I am a great fan of the olympics and am very much looking forward to when it starts in August. I cannot, however, understand the hysteria that appears to be surrounding this relay! Thousands of people are turning out - can anyone explain why?
I get the fact that worthy people consider it an honour to carry the torch (with the exception of the corporate runners who are not worthy at all!!). I get the fact that lindyloon is enjoying watching it on the i/n in the Canaries - I suspect it has nothing to do with the "torch" at all but it must be nice to see familiar places and the odd familiar face. However, I cannot understand why 1000s and 1000s of people are lining the streets. All it is to me is a **** nuisance guaranteed to **** up my journey home tonight and the journey to work tomorrow!![/p][/quote]The answer is simple to this Angry, most of the thousands lining the routes are school children and their teachers. It amazed me that my son's Head Teacher couldn't put in place sufficient control measures to prevent the remote possibility of him slipping in two inches of snow, injuring himself and me suing the school this winter causing his school to close for several days. But he was able to manage enough safety precautions to transport the entire school to a nearby town, stand them next to a main road and allow them to mingle with people with no criminal records check to watch the torch pass . What's the Latin for "Anything Bar Teach"? It would make a great school motto these days.Pete the Brickie

AngryandFrustrated wrote…

I am a great fan of the olympics and am very much looking forward to when it starts in August. I cannot, however, understand the hysteria that appears to be surrounding this relay! Thousands of people are turning out - can anyone explain why?

I get the fact that worthy people consider it an honour to carry the torch (with the exception of the corporate runners who are not worthy at all!!). I get the fact that lindyloon is enjoying watching it on the i/n in the Canaries - I suspect it has nothing to do with the "torch" at all but it must be nice to see familiar places and the odd familiar face. However, I cannot understand why 1000s and 1000s of people are lining the streets. All it is to me is a **** nuisance guaranteed to **** up my journey home tonight and the journey to work tomorrow!!

The answer is simple to this Angry, most of the thousands lining the routes are school children and their teachers. It amazed me that my son's Head Teacher couldn't put in place sufficient control measures to prevent the remote possibility of him slipping in two inches of snow, injuring himself and me suing the school this winter causing his school to close for several days. But he was able to manage enough safety precautions to transport the entire school to a nearby town, stand them next to a main road and allow them to mingle with people with no criminal records check to watch the torch pass . What's the Latin for "Anything Bar Teach"? It would make a great school motto these days.

Score: 0

matroom
1:40pm Wed 20 Jun 12

Pete the Brickie wrote…

AngryandFrustrated wrote…

I am a great fan of the olympics and am very much looking forward to when it starts in August. I cannot, however, understand the hysteria that appears to be surrounding this relay! Thousands of people are turning out - can anyone explain why?

I get the fact that worthy people consider it an honour to carry the torch (with the exception of the corporate runners who are not worthy at all!!). I get the fact that lindyloon is enjoying watching it on the i/n in the Canaries - I suspect it has nothing to do with the "torch" at all but it must be nice to see familiar places and the odd familiar face. However, I cannot understand why 1000s and 1000s of people are lining the streets. All it is to me is a **** nuisance guaranteed to **** up my journey home tonight and the journey to work tomorrow!!

The answer is simple to this Angry, most of the thousands lining the routes are school children and their teachers. It amazed me that my son's Head Teacher couldn't put in place sufficient control measures to prevent the remote possibility of him slipping in two inches of snow, injuring himself and me suing the school this winter causing his school to close for several days. But he was able to manage enough safety precautions to transport the entire school to a nearby town, stand them next to a main road and allow them to mingle with people with no criminal records check to watch the torch pass . What's the Latin for "Anything Bar Teach"? It would make a great school motto these days.

Haha. Best comment so far. Love it. More please.

[quote][p][bold]Pete the Brickie[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]AngryandFrustrated[/bold] wrote:
I am a great fan of the olympics and am very much looking forward to when it starts in August. I cannot, however, understand the hysteria that appears to be surrounding this relay! Thousands of people are turning out - can anyone explain why?
I get the fact that worthy people consider it an honour to carry the torch (with the exception of the corporate runners who are not worthy at all!!). I get the fact that lindyloon is enjoying watching it on the i/n in the Canaries - I suspect it has nothing to do with the "torch" at all but it must be nice to see familiar places and the odd familiar face. However, I cannot understand why 1000s and 1000s of people are lining the streets. All it is to me is a **** nuisance guaranteed to **** up my journey home tonight and the journey to work tomorrow!![/p][/quote]The answer is simple to this Angry, most of the thousands lining the routes are school children and their teachers. It amazed me that my son's Head Teacher couldn't put in place sufficient control measures to prevent the remote possibility of him slipping in two inches of snow, injuring himself and me suing the school this winter causing his school to close for several days. But he was able to manage enough safety precautions to transport the entire school to a nearby town, stand them next to a main road and allow them to mingle with people with no criminal records check to watch the torch pass . What's the Latin for "Anything Bar Teach"? It would make a great school motto these days.[/p][/quote]Haha. Best comment so far. Love it. More please.matroom

Pete the Brickie wrote…

AngryandFrustrated wrote…

I am a great fan of the olympics and am very much looking forward to when it starts in August. I cannot, however, understand the hysteria that appears to be surrounding this relay! Thousands of people are turning out - can anyone explain why?

I get the fact that worthy people consider it an honour to carry the torch (with the exception of the corporate runners who are not worthy at all!!). I get the fact that lindyloon is enjoying watching it on the i/n in the Canaries - I suspect it has nothing to do with the "torch" at all but it must be nice to see familiar places and the odd familiar face. However, I cannot understand why 1000s and 1000s of people are lining the streets. All it is to me is a **** nuisance guaranteed to **** up my journey home tonight and the journey to work tomorrow!!

The answer is simple to this Angry, most of the thousands lining the routes are school children and their teachers. It amazed me that my son's Head Teacher couldn't put in place sufficient control measures to prevent the remote possibility of him slipping in two inches of snow, injuring himself and me suing the school this winter causing his school to close for several days. But he was able to manage enough safety precautions to transport the entire school to a nearby town, stand them next to a main road and allow them to mingle with people with no criminal records check to watch the torch pass . What's the Latin for "Anything Bar Teach"? It would make a great school motto these days.

Haha. Best comment so far. Love it. More please.

Score: 0

moose
6:00pm Wed 20 Jun 12

ReginaldBiscuit wrote…

Punkster wrote…

moose wrote…

Stop whinging, really, please, for once just stop complaining and be happy that lots of people (and I mean tens of thousands) were made very happy. I have never seen Selby or York like that before - extraordinary atmosphere with such good will and people beaming from ear to ear. I get despondent reading the same old tired, boring dullards on here. Does anything at all in the world excite you? Can you not just be pleased that other people were pleased by something so harmless?

Completely agree.

life is quite difficult and uncertain for lots of people right now. Bit of rest-bite can't be bad thing can it?

Apes looking at fire on the end of a stick is akin to a dog getting excited by a thrown piece of wood or even flies buzzing like mad round a brightly coloured bug zapper.

Punkster, I agree with your ray-of-sunshine view but if your life is that shallow that you feel compelled to go and watch a turkey with a fire-stick then you have some questions to ask yourself. Apes are very much like lemmings and last night was a 'lemming effect'.

Your lives are controlled by the media and causes which play on a sense of guilt and a want of belonging.

I am not a creationist. There is no such thing as God in my mind but I wonder if the crowds would have been as big if it had been Jesus Christ running with the torch last night.

I think you have chosen a deliberately obtuse way of looking at this. Nobody watched the torch because they enjoy watching fire on a stick. Nobody watches football because they simply enjoy the sight of a spherical object going backwards and forwards. Nobody reads a book because they like seeing the shapes that ink can form on a piece of paper. People's enjoyment of these literal events only make sense in the wider context of the meanings we imbue them with. But then you knew that already.

If you genuinely did think it was apes watching fire, I'd be far more worried about your cognitive capacity than theirs :p

[quote][p][bold]ReginaldBiscuit[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Punkster[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]moose[/bold] wrote:
Stop whinging, really, please, for once just stop complaining and be happy that lots of people (and I mean tens of thousands) were made very happy. I have never seen Selby or York like that before - extraordinary atmosphere with such good will and people beaming from ear to ear. I get despondent reading the same old tired, boring dullards on here. Does anything at all in the world excite you? Can you not just be pleased that other people were pleased by something so harmless?[/p][/quote]Completely agree.
life is quite difficult and uncertain for lots of people right now. Bit of rest-bite can't be bad thing can it?[/p][/quote]Apes looking at fire on the end of a stick is akin to a dog getting excited by a thrown piece of wood or even flies buzzing like mad round a brightly coloured bug zapper.
Punkster, I agree with your ray-of-sunshine view but if your life is that shallow that you feel compelled to go and watch a turkey with a fire-stick then you have some questions to ask yourself. Apes are very much like lemmings and last night was a 'lemming effect'.
Your lives are controlled by the media and causes which play on a sense of guilt and a want of belonging.
I am not a creationist. There is no such thing as God in my mind but I wonder if the crowds would have been as big if it had been Jesus Christ running with the torch last night.[/p][/quote]I think you have chosen a deliberately obtuse way of looking at this. Nobody watched the torch because they enjoy watching fire on a stick. Nobody watches football because they simply enjoy the sight of a spherical object going backwards and forwards. Nobody reads a book because they like seeing the shapes that ink can form on a piece of paper. People's enjoyment of these literal events only make sense in the wider context of the meanings we imbue them with. But then you knew that already.
If you genuinely did think it was apes watching fire, I'd be far more worried about your cognitive capacity than theirs :pmoose

ReginaldBiscuit wrote…

Punkster wrote…

moose wrote…

Stop whinging, really, please, for once just stop complaining and be happy that lots of people (and I mean tens of thousands) were made very happy. I have never seen Selby or York like that before - extraordinary atmosphere with such good will and people beaming from ear to ear. I get despondent reading the same old tired, boring dullards on here. Does anything at all in the world excite you? Can you not just be pleased that other people were pleased by something so harmless?

Completely agree.

life is quite difficult and uncertain for lots of people right now. Bit of rest-bite can't be bad thing can it?

Apes looking at fire on the end of a stick is akin to a dog getting excited by a thrown piece of wood or even flies buzzing like mad round a brightly coloured bug zapper.

Punkster, I agree with your ray-of-sunshine view but if your life is that shallow that you feel compelled to go and watch a turkey with a fire-stick then you have some questions to ask yourself. Apes are very much like lemmings and last night was a 'lemming effect'.

Your lives are controlled by the media and causes which play on a sense of guilt and a want of belonging.

I am not a creationist. There is no such thing as God in my mind but I wonder if the crowds would have been as big if it had been Jesus Christ running with the torch last night.

I think you have chosen a deliberately obtuse way of looking at this. Nobody watched the torch because they enjoy watching fire on a stick. Nobody watches football because they simply enjoy the sight of a spherical object going backwards and forwards. Nobody reads a book because they like seeing the shapes that ink can form on a piece of paper. People's enjoyment of these literal events only make sense in the wider context of the meanings we imbue them with. But then you knew that already.

If you genuinely did think it was apes watching fire, I'd be far more worried about your cognitive capacity than theirs :p

Score: 0

Kelvar
11:14pm Wed 20 Jun 12

Sick of hearing about the Olympics already, and it hasn't even started properly yet! Massive waste of time, effort, and money, not to mention 'the security' surrounding it all.....and before that we'll have Wimbledon (another washout)..Wish I WAS going away for the duration....

Sick of hearing about the Olympics already, and it hasn't even started properly yet! Massive waste of time, effort, and money, not to mention 'the security' surrounding it all.....and before that we'll have Wimbledon (another washout)..Wish I WAS going away for the duration....Kelvar

Sick of hearing about the Olympics already, and it hasn't even started properly yet! Massive waste of time, effort, and money, not to mention 'the security' surrounding it all.....and before that we'll have Wimbledon (another washout)..Wish I WAS going away for the duration....

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